Beyond the Gates Recap Dec 9: Joey shocks Vanessa, Bill collapses

In the Beyond the Gates recap on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Randy tries to get Hayley to calm down and focus, Bill and Anita see their doctors with different results, and Joey makes a scene at the club.

Beyond the Gates Recap

At the law office, Hayley poisoned Bill’s cup of tea, but was surprised when she brought it in and was surprised to find Caroline at Bill’s desk instead of her husband. She was even more taken aback when Caroline told her Bill was at the hospital for a routine check after his stroke. 

At the hospital, Bill ran into Anita. She told him that she was there for a checkup, including her vision, which was 20/20. Anita shared that when she looked at Bill, she had clear vision as well. She told him that she saw a man who had it all, and now he was looking at her daughter with remorse.

Bill said that they loved their daughters and were finding a path to get along for their sake. When Bill said that he cared for Anita and Vernon, and that Vernon was a role model for Bill over the years, Anita lectured on how Bill wasn’t like Vernon at all as a husband.

Anita rubbed it in about how happy Dani was now, and a lot of that had to do with being with Andre. Bill noted that he was surprised by their pairing. Anita said she’d sleep better if Nicole could find someone as well. 

Bill said that he always thought Nicole and Ted were a great couple, but shrugged that things happen. “Things happen? Are you equating infidelity to a weather pattern?” Anita chided. Bill said all he meant was that life can be messy. He hoped Nicole could find someone who made him happy like Hayley had made him.

Anita asked how Hayley felt about his feelings for Dani but he insisted that it was all for their kids and Hayley understood that he and Dani would always be in each others lives. Anita said he didn’t fool her. “I see you,” she said dramatically.

After Anita left, Bill saw Madison, who had his test results. They stepped into a room to discuss. Madison inexplicably made him worry for a moment that she saw something in his chart, but said that everything was looking great. Afterwards, Madison shared that she and Chelsea weren’t on speaking terms after their Thanksgiving blow up.

Madison took a seat and told Bill all the details until he tried to interrupt. Bill suggested that Chelsea was just trying to show her she could make a good impression on her family, but Madison insisted she went about it the wrong way.

At their place, Chelsea was sick, and Kat told her that she spent time with Tomas at Uptown instead of Winterfest. She shared that he asked her to move in with him, but she turned him down. Chelsea told Kat about her fight with Madison. She said she was so thirsty to show Madison she could handle her mom that she offended her, and a story that Anita told her resonated to make her see her mistake from Madison’s point of view. Kat told her she had the chance to explain that to her as Madison walked in the door.

At home, Vernon was on the phone, saying he had the house to himself, when Dani surprised him. She wanted to invite her parents to a double date with Andre, but Vernon said they’d need a raincheck. He assured Dani they welcomed Andre to the family and meant it, and that he fit in better already than Bill ever did.

Vernon kept trying to get Dani to leave, so she teased him about the things her mom had told her about Vernon being a wanted man back in the day, even the Articulettes were flirting with him. 

At the casino, Randy was with Joey when Hayley called, saying she needed to see him immediately. Randy made his excuse to leave, but Joey quipped to say hi to Mrs. Hamilton as he left. 

Vanessa came in, still displeased that Joey didn’t come to Winterfest and be seen with her. “I am done being Joey Armstrong’s dirty little secret,” Vanessa fumed. Joey told her that her respect and reputation meant something. He insisted he wasn’t trying to control her; he was trying to protect them.

Vanessa said she had nothing to hide. Joey reminded her about the money laundering they were doing through her real estate company. Vanessa said it was all the more reason to be seen, and it was basic redirection to get people to focus on his legit activity and not think about his illegal ones.

Joey wanted an explanation for Vanessa sending away Donnell after Doug had died but suddenly wants everyone to know they’re together? Vanessa said it made sense to her — she spent so many years living in a gilded cage, wasting so much time hiding in an unhappy marriage while keeping up public appearances, and now wanted to be happy and show the world. Joey still thought they should keep it secret for now. Vanessa suggested they hit pause on their personal relationship and when Joey said he’d do what she wanted, she left. 

Hayley and Randy met at the gym cafe, and she was beside herself with worry that Bill’s blood tests could detect the poison. Randy assured her that it was untraceable. He told her to hold it together and finish the job. He said she was so close to the biggest payout of her life and she was letting her nerves get the better of her.

Anita came home and was calling out to Vernon and talking as she came in the foyer and took off her coat. When she entered the living room, she stopped in her tracks. Vernon had a meal flown in first class from Dooky Chase in New Orleans, one of Anita’s favorites. Vernon told his wife how much he loved her. After dinner, Anita got a phone call from her doctor, who wanted her to return for more tests.

Dani met Andre for dinner at the country club. She asked how it was seeing Ashley the night before, and he said he was fine, but felt sympathy for her. Dani asked him not to become her shoulder to cry on.

At the country club bar, Anastasia came by and got in some digs. She noted that Vanessa was day drinking and took swipes at her status, saying that Vanessa used to hold court at the bar, but now couldn’t even get a man to buy a drink for her. Sending Vanessa to tears, Anastasia triumphantly strutted away.

Vanessa invited herself to Dani and Andre’s table and cried to them that Joey was rejecting her. As she shrilly told them she wanted to live an authentic life, Dani suggested that Joey rejecting Vanessa was the best thing for her, but she snapped loudly at her that is was not.

Anastasia returned to provoke Vanessa about her loud voice in the club, which was, according to her, unacceptable. Vanessa looked past her and gasped. Joey strode over to the table, shooting a glare at Anastasia before grabbing Vanessa and pulling her to her feet. Vanessa asked what he was doing there. “Making a scene,” Joey growled before kissing her passionately.

Bill went back to the office, and Hayley was preparing him another doctored tea. He told her that he had a clean bill of health and was reviewing a case while he drank the cup. Hayley rambled about going to their new vacation home in St. Barts as Bill stood up. He was struggling to walk and talk, and called out to Hayley as he fell to the floor.